Re: PSA re:Drunk Driving Re: Drunk driving and testosterone

[Todd Phenneger <phen9461@uidaho.edu>]

  Can anyone explain to me what could be so FUN about hitting a speed bump
  at a high rate of speed?
  I go to a lot of effort avoiding speed bumps when driving my 5000cstq
  (mandatory Audi content).
 If the speed bump becomes more enjoyable as one drives faster, then it is
  quite a flawed design.
  I did not know that team door handle did speed bumps... :-)
  Eric R. Kissell
  1986 5000cstq            
----------------------------------------
Well, I think it depends on the type of Speed Bump.  There are three types
and various rates of enjoyability/agony
	1) The Traditional Bump.  Maybe 3-5" high and about 6 - 12" long
and all the way accross the road.  Basically the usual parking lot type.
Some are OK, some of the steeper ones require SLOW speed and I spose could
bend a wheel if you hit them with enough speed.  I find them especially
annoying and aggrivating as at any speed above about 2 mph they jostle.
ANd in a LOW car like say a Ferrari 308 GT+4 they are impossible as you
bottom.  You have to use the entire road and take it at an angle so the
middle of the car is never suspended above it.  Always one tire on the
bump.  I loath these.  No FAST solution
	2) The DIP.  Hmm, not as bad as (1) but still rather annoying.
Fells rather like a small Pothole at speed but no risk of Bottoming.  A
little better at speed but still best at slow speeds.
	3)  My Favorite.  The Gigantic New Age Bump that is like a foot
high but like 10 feet long so the entire car is on it at once.  THESE are
the fun ones.  Now, in my Old Suspensioned 85' 4kq I can only take at
moderate speed as the rear tends to bottom and bounce.  Girlfriends Stock
4kq is a little better.  I can take at speed limit with limited bounce but
still risk bottoming above about 30.  My friends 5ktq with Koni's seems to
do OK but is so low that it bottoms as well.  It has a Coil-over kit with
like 8" springs but apparently the Koni's dont have enough Compression
Stiffness to let the big car take them at speed.  --  So, what are the fun
cars here.  Well, My Red 84' for one.  With stiffer 84' springs and Boge
TG it is comfortable at any speed.  Well up to about 45 - 50 at least.
Doesn't seem to mind.  At 20 it rocks with the bump but at like 40 it
simple absorbs the bump underneath the car with minimal jolt / rock / roll
or other ungainly moves.  Rather fun and exiting when you watch the
Mustang behind you try to do the same thing after finally catching back up
to you after losing him in the corners. :-)   Now, I suspect the 5ktq
Rally car with 400lb springs and Bilstien Group 2 Rally Struts would also
take this well at speed as it takes everything else on the Rally Roads
well at speed but I have yet to try it. :-)
	So, I dont know if this sheds any light on the matter but with
certain suspensions (I suspect many trucks like my old Jeep Cherokee would
do well to) and cars these bumps are indeed better and smoother at speed.
So yes, in a wierd sort of way I guess they are a flawed design. :-)
	L8R

	Todd Phenneger
	1985 4000 quattro / silver / daily driver
	1983 ur-q / black / fixing it up
	1984 4000 quattro / modified/ awaiting Turbo Transplant.
	1987 4000 quattro / Saphire Metallic Blue/ Girlfriend's
	1996 A6q / Volcano / Dads Car
   *****1985 5kt / PARTING OUT!